Director Brad Bird's <a data-cy="styled-link" href="/movies/ray-gunn"><u>Ray Gunn</u></a> is a visually stunning, retro-futuristic sci-fi noir that, despite its considerable stylistic flair, struggles with an overlong runtime and narrative pacing issues. The film, which premiered on October 10 at the London Film Festival, opens in select theaters on December 4 and will be available on Netflix starting December 18.
Set in the sprawling futuristic metropolis of Metropia, the story follows private investigator Ray Gunn, voiced by Sam Rockwell, and his alien partner, Eye-Ra, voiced by Tom Waits. Their investigation into the disappearance of the world's most famous pop star, Venus Nova (Scarlett Johansson), uncovers a conspiracy involving murder and corruption. This narrative leans into the gritty tone of film noir, positioning Ray Gunn as a project with a more mature audience in mind than Bird's previous animated features like The Incredibles and Ratatouille.
The film does incorporate animated hijinks, including Gunn's particle blaster pistol and a small, alien canine-like creature. Alien designs are familiar yet fitting for the world, with some serving functional or humorous purposes, like Eye-Ra's arachnid-like climbing abilities, while others are clear homages to classic film noir characters. The crime lord Slugsy, for example, is modeled after Sydney Greenstreet, and his associate resembles Peter Lorre.
Ray Gunn uses its alien population as a metaphor for societal issues like segregation and xenophobia, with aliens relegated to manual labor and barred from certain human establishments. While the film touches on these themes thoughtfully, exploring the implications of bigotry in its narrative, these aspects could have been delved into more deeply. A significant portion of the film's commentary on racism cannot be discussed without spoilers but represents a novel approach for an animated feature.
The film's middle section tends to drag as it navigates predictable detective procedural beats and attempts misdirection that feels transparent. The narrative also packs in numerous under-explored themes concerning the entertainment industry, technology, and human nature, often only scratching the surface.
Technically, Ray Gunn is a triumph. Its retro-futuristic aesthetic is consistently realized, from architecture and costumes to vehicles and technology. The film is a feast for the eyes and ears, with composer Michael Giacchino providing a moody score reminiscent of 1940s cinema, particularly effective during dialogue-heavy and romantic scenes. This fusion of creative elements results in a pulpy, stylish experience.
The voice cast is uniformly strong. Rockwell embodies the hardboiled yet optimistic gumshoe, while Waits brings a world-weary cynicism and wry wit to Eye-Ra. Matt Berry voices Slugsy with appropriate sleaze, and supporting roles from Bobby Canavale, Alan Tudyk, Michelle Rodriguez, and Kether Donohue are well-executed. Scarlett Johansson delivers a sultry performance as Venus Nova and also showcases her singing talent on three songs, notably the catchy "Innocent."
Overall, Ray Gunn is a commendable animated film that expertly blends film noir and science fiction aesthetics. While its narrative could benefit from tighter pacing and deeper thematic exploration, its visual design, voice performances, and unique premise make it a worthwhile watch, particularly on the largest screen possible before its home streaming release.